Mechanical picker stick check and parallel motion for looms



Dec. 7, 1954 A, H SMART 2,696,223

MECHANICAL PICKER STICK CHECK AND PARALLEL MoTICN FCE LooMs I 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 50, 1953 y ATTORNEYS D@- 7, 1954 h A H, SMART 2,696,223

MECHANICAL PICKER STICK CHECK AND PARALLEL MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed July 3o. 1953 2 sheets-sheet 2 ADDlE +1. SM A12-n 1 BY @MWD ATTORNEYS United Statesg Patent O MECHANICAL PICKER STICK CHECK AND PARALLEL MOTION FOR LOOMS Addie H. Smart, Greenville, S. C., assignor to Hardwood Manufacturing Company, Inc., Greenville, S. C., a corporation of South Carolina Application July 30, 1953, Serial No. 371,335

14 Claims. (Cl. 139-150) This invention relates to looms and, more especially, to an improved mechanical pickerstick check and parallel motion therefor.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide improved means vfor maintaining the parallel shoe of a parallel motion for looms in engagement with the parallel or parallel base wherein an improved means is provided for retarding and checking outward movement of the picker stick and facilitating the use of a spring actuated drum for checking outward movement of the picker stick. j

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction and may be economically manufactured, which is durable and has a minimum of parts and dispenses with the use of the conventional type of picker stick check strap.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a checking device of the character described which is so arranged that a torsion spring actuated drum may be employed to` check each active and inactive lstroke or movement of the picker stick.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a checking device of the character described including an improved form of parallel shoe to which the lower end ofthe picker stick is connected and which parallel shoe is connected by means of a carn link to the oscillating stand or parallel base of the conventional loom. The cam link has a cam projection thereon which, in the course of an active or inactive stroke of the picker stick, engages a cam lever pivoted on the parallel base or oscillating stand. The cam lever is connected, by means of a pliable strap, to the usual type-of spring actuated drum so the cam lever resiliently retards movement of the cam link and thereby retards movement of the parallel shoe and the picker stick during each active stroke thereof. l

Also, in order to maintain the heel portion of the parallel shoe in engagement with the outer end portion of the parallel base or oscillating stand during rocking movement of the parallel shoe relative to the stand, a pliable strap is connected to the heel portion of the shoe at one end thereof and its other end is connected to a spring actuated drum supported by and beneath the oscillating stand or parallel base. Thus, the second-named spring actuated drum serves the dual purpose of maintaining the parallel shoe in engagement with the upper surface of the parallel base or oscillating stand and also prevents rebounding ofthe picker stick as a shuttle is boxed, and serves to return the picker stick to neutral position when a shuttle is expelled from its associated shuttle box.

`Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear' as the description proceeds, when takenlin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the improved parallel motion and mechanical picker stick check, with the central portion of the picker stick broken away, and showing the oscillating stand or parallel base thereof xed o1? one end of a conventional sword-supporting rocker s aft;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, showing thepicker stick in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3 -3 in Figure l;

check taken substantially along line 44 in Figure 2,"

showing the cam link and cam lever mostly in elevation and showing the picker stick in a substantially neutral or vertical position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the picker stick in the outer inclined position.

Referring more specificaly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates one end of a rocker shaft on which is suitably secured a hub or boss portion 11 of an improved parallel base or oscillating stand broadly designated at 12. The parallel base has anoutwardly projecting stem portion or arm 13 integral with the hub 11 thereof which is provided with a flat upper surface 14 upon which the curved lower surface 15 of an improved parallel shoe or foot, broadly designated at 16, has rocking movement.

The parallel shoe 16 includes a foot portion 20, a heel portion 21 and a shank portion 22. The shank portion- 22 is generally channel-shaped or U-shaped in plan for receiving the lower portion of a picker stick S, on the upper end of which a conventional picker P is secured in the usual manner. The picker stick S is conventional with the exception that, as will be observed in Figures 4 and 5, the lower end thereof terminates short of the curved lower surface 15 of the parallel shoe 16, rather than extending downwardly through both the parallel shoe 16 and the parallel base 12, as has heretofore been the case.

The foot portion 20 of the parallel shoe 16 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 23 which is open at the toe or inner end of the foot portion 20; that is, the end thereof adjacent the rocker shaft 10 of the loom. It will be observed in Figures 4 and 5 that the `slot 23 terminates short of the heel portion 21 of the parallel shoe 16 and communicates with the channel-shaped shank 22 so the lower end of the picker stick S may, if desired, extend into the slot 23 a relatively short distance.

The lower end of the picker stick S is secured to the channel-shaped shank 22 by a heel bolt 24 which passes through the web of the shank 22, through the picker stick Sand through a cap or pressure plate 25. An adjustment screw 26 threadably penetrates the upper portion of the web ofl the shank 22 and bears against the inner surface of the picker stick S for adjusting the angularity of the picker stick S relative to the parallel shoe 16. The adjustment screw 26 is locked in adjusted position by a suitable lock nut 27.

Heretofore, the conventional type of parallel shoe has been maintained in alinement with the parallel base or oscillating stand by means of ears projecting downwardly fromopposite sides of the parallel shoe and loosely engaging opposite sides of the oscillating stand or parallel base. Also, a parallel tongue has been used heretofore which projected downwardly through an opening in the base and had a projection on the lower end thereof which engaged the lower surface of the parallel base, the picker stick also projecting downwardly through said opening and being connected to one end of a strap whose other end was connected to a spring actuated drum.

Heretofore, the latter spring actuated drum has merely served to return the picker stick to a substantially neutral or vertical position following each active stroke of the picker stick as imparted thereby by the usual lug strap, which has been omitted from the present drawing.

Now, various attempts have been made to perfect amovement of the picker stick during active strokes thereof without interfering with the normal operation of the picking mechanism.

It will be noted that, in the present instance, the curved lower surface 13 of the heel or outer portion 21 of Patented Dec. 7, 1954` the improved parallel shoe is urged into engagement with the flat upper surface 14 of the parallel base or oscillating stand 12 by a exible or pliable strap member or heel strap 30 whose upper end is suitably secured to the upper surface of the heel 21 of the parallel shoe 16, by any suit able means such as a screw 32. The heel 21 preferably extends outwardly beyond the corresponding end of the arm 13 of the parallel base 12 and the heel strap 30 curves downwardly against the outer end of the heel 21 and then inwardly at an angle and engages a spring actu* ated drum 33.

The spring actuated drum 33 may be of any desired or conventional construction and is provided with a slot 34 therein through which one hooked end 35 of a torsion spring 36 extends. This hooked end 35 of the torsion spring 36 is connected to the heel strap 3l). The drum 33 is supported on a stud 37 carried by an outer drum supporting portion 40 of the parallel base 12, which portion extends upwardly and then inwardly and is cast integral with the outer end of the arm 13 of the parallel base or oscillating stand 12, as best shown in Figures l, 2 and 3. The drum 33 may be of the same construction as a second spring actuated drum 42 disposed at the inner end of the parallel base or oscillating stand 12, which drum 42 will be latter desired in detail. Therefore, a detailed illustration and description of the drum 33 and the manner in which the torsion spring 36 is supported, is deemed unnecessary.

Pivotally connected to the medial portion of the parallel shoe 16, as at 43, is one end of a cam link 44, a portion of which is loosely disposed in the slot 23. The link 44 extends downwardly and inwardly at an angle, from the pivot 43 and loosely extends into longitudinally extending slot 4S provided therefor in the arm 13 of the parallel base 12. The inner lower end of the cam link 44 is pivotally connected to the portions of the arm 13 defining the walls of said slot 45, as at 46. The cam link 44 has a cam 47 integral therewith which projects upwardly and inwardly from the link 44 and whose inner surface is adapted to engage the outer surface or mating ca rn surface of an arm 50 of a cam lever or bellcrank broadly designated at 51.

The bell crank or cam lever 51 is pivotally supported, as at 52, between a pair of spaced ears 53 which project upwardly from the arm 13 of the parallel base or oscillating stand 12. It should be noted that the pivot 52 of the bell crank or cam lever 51 is spaced above the portion of the outer surface of the arm 50 which is adapted to be engaged by the inner end of the cam 47 carried by link 44 so that, regardless of the direction in which movement is imparted to the parallel shoe 16 by an inactive or active stroke of the picker stick S, the pivot 43 moves upwardly away from the upper surface 14 of the arm 13 of the parallel base 12 and the cam 47 on link 44 engages the outer surface of arm'50 of the bell crank 51, thereby causing this arm 50 to move inwardly or, in other words, to impart counter-clockwise movement to the bell crank or cam lever 51 in Figures l, 4 and 5 from the position shown in Figures l and 4 to substantially the position shown in Figure 5.

`The cam lever or bell crank 51 also has a relatively long armv S which is integral with, and projects at a substantially right angle to the upper portion of the arm 50 thereof. Suitably secured to the upper surface of the relatively long arm 55 of bell crank 51, as by a screw 57, is one end of a cam lever strap or toe strap 56. The strap 56 extends inwardly and curves downwardly at the free end of the arm 55 of bell crank 51 and engages the periphery of the second drum 42.

Now, referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that the drum 42 is rotatably mounted on a reduced portion 60 of a sleeve 61. The external ange of drum 42` is longitudinally slotted, as at 62. A substantial portion of a torsion spring 63 is loosely disposed within the drum 42 and one end of the spring 63 is bent outwardly to form a hook 64 thereon which penetrates the lower end portion of the strap 56 for securing said strap thereto. The other end of the spring 63 is bent inwardly and hooked about a slotted ange 65 of the sleeve 61.

Referring again to Figure 3, it will be observed that the sleevey 61 is mounted on a shank portion 66 of a bolt 67, which shank portion is rectangular or square to prevent relative movement between the sleeve 61. and the stud` or bolt 67. The stud or bolt 67 extends through an upwardly projecting second drum supporting portion 68 wlhoselower end is integral with the hub 11 of the parallel s oe It is thus seen that the sleeve 61 is tightly secured against the portion 68 of the parallel shoe 12 and the drum 42 is loosely mounted on the reduced portion 60 of the sleeve 61. It is therefore evident that the torsion spring 63 tends to urge the drum 42 and the strap 56 in clockwise direction in Figures '1, 4 and 5.

Now, in order to insure that the outer surface of the arm 50 of the cam lever or bell crank 51 and the corresponding inner or mating surface of the cam portion 47 of link 44 are in proper relationship so the arm 50 of the cam lever or bell crank 51 does not exert pressure or, at

' least, exert excessive pressure, on the inner face or surface of the cam 47 of link 44 when .the picker stick S is in a neutral or substantially vertical position, an abutment in the form of an adjustment screw 70 threadably penetrates the arm 13 of the parallel base 12 inwardly of the slot 45 and its upper end is so positioned as to be engaged by the lower surface of the arm 50 of the bell crank 51 when the picker stick S is in a substantially vertical, intermediate or neutral position. The adjustment screw 70 is held in the desired adjusted position by any suitable means such as a lock nut 71.

Method of operation As the picker stick S moves from thesubstantially vertical position or neutral position to the outer inclined position, due to the impact of the shuttle against the picker P the outer end of the link 44 moves upwardly due to the corresponding portion of the lower surface of the parallel shoe 16 moving upwardly away from the at upper surface 14 of the parallel base 12. This upward movement of the shoe 16 is greater as compared to that of the usual types of parallel shoes due to the fact that the outer end of the arm 13 of the parallel base 12 terminates at a point substantially inwardly of the outer end of the heel 21 of the parallel shoe 16. Of course, as the outer end or pivot 43 of link 44 moves upwardly, this causes the l thereof is multiplied considerably as compared to the force inherent in the torsion spring 63 due to the ratio or mechanical advantage between the point at which the cam 47 on the link 44- engages the arm Sil of the cam lever 51 as compared to the length of the arm 55 of the cam lever or bell crank 51. This checking action is also further multiplied due to the relationship between the pivot points 43 and 46 of the link 44 as compared to the distance between the pivot point 46 and the point at which the cam 47 of the link 44 engages the outer surface of the arm 50 of the cam lever or bell crank 51.

When the picker stick S is swung to the right from a substantially vertical or neutral position to the inner inclined position, with an active stroke thereof, the inward swinging movement of the picker stick is initially checked or restrained only slightly due to the action of the heel strap 30. However, as the picker stick approaches the end of its inward stroke, the innermost end of the foot 20 of the parallel shoe 16 engages the flat upper surface 14 of the parallel base 12 which then tends to move the central portion of the shoe 16 upwardly away from the llat upper surface 14 of the parallel base 12. This causes the link 44 to again pivot in a clockwise direction about the pivot 46 to again impart counter-clockwise movement to the cam lever or bell crank 51 to finally check the inward movement of the picker stick S. Of course, as the cam 47 of link 44 engages the outer surface of arm 50 of the bell crank 51, the shuttle leaves the picker P and the subsequent checking action upon the inward movement of the picker stick does not interfere with the normal operation of the picking mechanism, nor does it place the picker stick S under undue' stress.

Upon the termination of each inward swinging movement of the picker stick S, the torsion spring 63 in the second drum 42 assists in returning they picker stick to the neutral position or, at least, tosubstantially the position shown in Figures l and 4, and whereupon the torsion spring 36 in the first drum 33 takes over and imparts further outward movement to the picker stick so the picker stick occupies a neutral or substantially vertical position so the picker P is properly positioned to receive the subsequent impact of the shuttle.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved parallel motion and picker stick check wherein the usual type of spring actuated drum may be employed for checking outward and inward movement of the picker stick and wherein the eiective checking action of the torsion spring 63 in the second drum 42 is substantially multiplied due to the interengagement of the cam lever 51 and the link 44 and due to the manner in which the link 44 is connected with the parallel shoe 16 and the parallel link 12.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, yalthough specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim: y

1. A picker stick check for a loom having a picker stick, a shoe secured to the picker stick and an oscillating stand, said check including a cam link pivotally connecting said shoe with the oscillating stand, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said oscillating stand, a cam carried by said link and being so arranged as to engage said cam lever as the picker stick swings to either side of a neutral position, and resilient means urging said lever toward the cam carried by said link.

2. A picker stick check for a loom having a picker stick, a shoe secured to the picker stick and an oscillating stand, said check including a cam link pivotally connecting said shoe with the oscillating stand, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said oscillating stand, a cam carried by said link and being so arranged as to engage said cam lever as the picker stick swings to either side of a neutral position, resilient means urging said lever toward the cam carried by said link, and adjustable means for maintaining the cam lever in a predetermined position relative to said cam when the picker stick is in said neutral position.

3. A picker stick check for a loom having an oscillating stand and a picker stick, a shoe secured to the `picker stick and resting on the oscillating stand, said check including a cam link pivotally connecting said shoe with the oscillating stand, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said oscillating stand, a cam carried by said link and being so arranged as to engage said cam lever as the picker stick swings to either side of a neutral position, and resilient nelns urging said lever toward the cam carried by said 4. A picker stick check for a loom having an oscillating stand and a picker stick, a shoe secured to the picker stick and resting on the oscillating stand, said check including a cam link pivotally connecting said shoe with the oscillating stand, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said oscillating stand, a cam carried by said link and being so arranged as to engage said cam lever as the picker stick swings to either side of a neutral position, resilient means urging said lever toward the cam carried by said link, and adjustable means for maintaining the cam lever in a predetermined position relative to said cam when the picker stick is in said neutral position.

5. A picker stick check for a loom having an oscillatory stand and a picker stick, a shoe secured to the picker stick and mounted for oscillation on the oscillatory stand, said check including a cam link pivotally connected to said shoe and to the oscillating stand, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said oscillatory stand, a cam carried by said link and being so arranged as to engage said cam lever as the picker stick swings towards either end of its stroke, and resilient means urging said cam lever toward the camv carried by said link.

6. A picker stick check for a loom having an oscillatory stand and a picker stick, a shoe secured to the picker stick and mounted for oscillation on the oscillatory stand, said check including a cam link pivotally connected to said shoe and to the oscillating stand, a cam lever pivotally mounted on said oscillatory stand, a cam carried by said link and being so arranged as to engage said cam lever as the picker stick swings towards either end of its stroke, resilient means urging said cam lever toward the cam carried by said link, and adjustable means for maintaining the cam lever in a predetermined position relative to said cam when the picker stick is in said neutral position.

7. In a loom having a picker stick, a parallel shoe secured to the picker stick, a rocker shaft, and a parallel base provided with a flat upper surface on which the shoe rests and having its inner end fixed on said rocker shaft; the combination of a picker stick check including a link pivotally connected at its outer end to the lower medial portion of said parallel shoe and having its inner end pivotally connected to the parallel base at a point adjacent the inner end of said shoe, a cam carried by said link and projecting upwardly and inwardly therefrom, a cam lever pivotally supported on said parallel base and having an arm thereon engageable with the inner end of said cam, and resilient means normally urging said arm toward the cam on said link.

8. A picker stick check for a loom having a picker stick, a parallel shoe secured to the picker stick, a rocker shaft, and a parallel base provided with a at upper surface on which the shoe rests and having its inner end fixed on ysaid rocker shaft; said check including a link pivotally connected at its outer end to the lower medial portion of said parallel shoe and having its inner end pivotally connected to the parallel base at a point adjacent the inner end of said shoe, a cam carried by said link and projecting upwardly and inwardly therefrom, a cam lever having an arm and being pivotally supported on Said parallel base and having its arm engageable with the inner end of said cam, and resilient means normally urging said arm toward the cam on said link.

9. A picker stick check for a loom having an oscillating stand and a picker stick, a shoe secured to the picker stick and mounted for oscillation on said stand, a rocker shaft, said stand having its inner end fixed on said rocker shaft; said check including a link pivotally connected at its outer end to the lower medial portion of said parallel shoe and having its inner end pivotally connected to the parallel base at a point adjacent the inner end of said shoe, a cam carried by said link and projecting upwardly and inwardly therefrom, a cam lever pivotally supported on said parallel base and having an arm thereon engageable with the inner end of said cam, and resilient means normally urging said arm toward the cam on said link.

l0. A picker stick check for a loom having a picker stick and a rocker shaft, a parallel base provided with a flat upper surface and having its inner end fixed on said rocker shaft, and a shoe secured to the picker stick and mounted for oscillation on said base, said check including a link pivotally connected at its outer end to the lower medial portion of said parallel shoe and `1 said parallel base and being engageable with the inner end of said cam, and resilient means normally urging said cam lever toward the cam on said link.

ll. A picker stick check for a loom having a picker stick, a rocker shaft, and a parallel base provided with a at upper surface and having its inner end fixed on said rocker shaft, and a shoe secured to the picker stick and resting on the parallel base; said check including a link pivotally connected at its outer end to the lower medial portion of said parallel shoe and having its inner end pivotally connected to the parallel base at a point adjacent the inner end of said shoe, a cam carried by said link and projecting upwardly and inwardly therefrom, a cam lever pivotally supported on said parallel base and having a first arm thereon engageable with the inner end of said cam, a second arm on said lever disposed at the opposite side of the pivot point of said lever relative to the first arm and being of substantially greater length than the distance from said last-named pivot point to the point at which the cam engages said irst arm, resilient means effective to urge said second arm in such a direction as to urge the rst arm toward the cam, and said resilient means being engageable with said second arm at a point spaced a substantially greater distance from the pivot point of the lever than that of the point at which the cam engages said first arm to thereby multiply the effective force of the resilient means.

12. A picker stick check for a loom having a picker stick, a shoe secured to the picker stick, a rocker shaft, and a parallel base provided with a at upper surface and'havi'ng its inner end fixed onl said rocker shaft, said shoe being mounted for oscillation on said. base; said check including a` link pivotally connectedat 1tsouter end to the lower medial portion. of said parallel shoey thereon engageable with the inner end of said cam, and.

resilient means normally urging said arm toward the cam on said link, a second arm on said lever disposed at the opposite side of the pivot point of said lever relative to` the rst arm, spring means effective to urge said second arm in such a direction as to urge the first arm toward the cam, and said spring means beingY operable upon said second arm at a point spaced a substantially greater distance from the pivot point of the lever than that of the point at which the cam engages said rst arm to thereby multiply the effective force of the spring means.

13. In a loom having a parallel base provided with a longitudinally extending slot therein, a parallel shoe having a curved lower surface rockingv on said parallel base, a shank projecting upwardly from said shoe and a picker stick secured to said shank, the combination of a heel integral with the outer end of said shoe and havingits lower surface coinciding with said lower curved surface of the shoe, said heel extending outwardly substantially beyond the corresponding outer end of said parallel base, resilient means normally urging said heel downwardly under relatively light pressure, the inner portion of said shoe having a longitudinally extending slot therein coinciding substantially with the opening in said parallel base, a link pivotally connected at its outer end to the medial portion of said shoe and being disposed n said slot in the shoe, means pivotally connecting the inner end of said link to said parallel base and within said slot in the parallel base, a cam carried by the link and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom and having its inner end disposed above the level of said parallel base, said parallel base having a pair of ears projecting upwardly therefrom inwardly of said shoe, a bell crank pvotally supported between said ears and having first and second arms thereon, said rst arm eX- tending downwardly from the pivot of the bell crank into the plane of said cam, said second arm being substantially longer than the first arm, a spring actuated drum carried by said parallel base and being disposed inwardly of said ears, a strap connecting the free end of said second arrn with said spring actuated drum, said spring actuated drum being urged in such a direction as to urge the first arm of the bell crank toward said cam whereby rocking movement of said shoe to either side of a neutral position causes the outer end of the link to move away from said parallel base to move thev camA intoV engagement with the first arm of the belly crank and whereby said spring actuated drum serves to check movement ofthe picker stick in either direction to either side of neutral position.

14. In a loom having a parallel base provided with a longitudinally extending slot therein, a parallel shoe having a curvedl lower surface rocking on said parallel base, a shank projecting upwardly from said shoe and a picker stick secured 'to said shank, the combination of a heel integral with the outer end of said shoe and having its lower surface coinciding with said lower curved surface of the shoe, said heel extending outwardly substantially beyond the corresponding outer end of said parallel base, resilient means normally urging said heel downwardly under relatively light pressure, the inner portion of said shoe having a longitudinally extending slot therein coinciding substantially with the opening in said parallel base, a link pivotally connected at its outer end to the medial portion of said shoe and being disposed in said slot in the shoe, means pivotally connecting the inner end of said link to said parallel base and' within said slot in the parallel base, a cam carried by the link and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom and having its inner end disposed above the level of said parallel base, said parallel base having a pair of ears projecting upwardly therefrom inwardly of said shoe, a bell crank pivotally supported between said ears and having first and second arms thereon, said first arm extending downwardly from the pivot of the bell crank into the plane of said cam, said second arm being substantially longer than the rst arm, a spring actuated drum carried by said parallel base and being disposed inwardly of said ears, a strap connecting the free end of said second arm with said spring actuated drum, said spring actuated drum being urged in such a direction as to urge the rst arm of the bell crank toward said cam whereby rocking movement of said shoe to either side of a neutral position causes the outer end of the link to move away from said parallel base to move the cam into engagement with the first arm of the bell crank and whereby said spring actuated drum serves to check movement of the picker stick in either direction to either side of neutral position, and an abutment carried by the parallel base and being engageable with said bell crank to limit movement of said first arm toward the cam carried by said link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 846,039 Major Mar. 5, 1967 1,046,732 Cabler Dec. 10, 1912 1,594,878 Davis Aug. 3, 1926 

